Tag: Baltimore Ravens (Page 39 of 46)

      10 things in sports that I’m thankful for

      November 27, 2008 /

      Ah, Thanksgiving – the time to give thanks.

      I thought that since it was Thanksgiving (which don’t forget, is the time to give thanks) that I would lay out 10 things that I’m thankful for in the world of sports.

      I’m thankful for…

      1…there’s no possible way we’ll see a Big Ten team play in the national championship.
      I love the Big Ten for many reasons – the physical brand of football, the traditions, the rivalries, etc. But there’s no team in that conference this year that could match up with the likes of Alabama, Florida, Texas or Oklahoma on a national stage. Penn State and Ohio State are solid teams, but if the Nittany Lions took on the Gators in the title game, there’s a good chance that we’d all be watching “A Charlie Brown Christmas” by halftime.


      New York Jets      2…parity in the NFL.
      How exciting is the NFL again this season? None of the divisions outside of the NFC West and maybe the NFC East have been decided yet and we still have five weeks of action left. Granted, there has been a lot of mediocre football being played around the league, but at least parity has bred competition on a weekly basis. Who would have thought that at this point in the season, the Jets, Ravens and Falcons would all be vying for a playoff spot?

      3…rivalry week in college football.
      Granted, not all of the matchups are attractive, but how great is it that Auburn is playing Alabama the same week Florida is playing Florida State? Even Ole’ Miss and Mississippi State will be entertaining and the possibility that one of the ranked schools will be knocked off by a rival is exciting.

      4…the Hot Stove League is heating up again.
      Outside of Opening Day and the postseason, this is by far the best time in baseball. Who doesn’t love hopping on the computer each day and surfing through all the rumors? And once your team lands one of the prized free agents, it’s all you can do from imaging your team playing in the Fall Classic next year.

      5…fantasy football playoffs.
      Everyone sitting in the bottom half of their fantasy football standings right now just flipped me the bird, but for those of us gearing up for the playoffs, the culmination of everything we’ve been working for all season is finally here. This is the time of year when you say, “Work? What work? Sorry boss – I’ve got to check my roster 4,000 more times before noon and then hit the Steelers training room so I can massage Ben Roethlisberger’s hamstrings so to ensure he’s ready to go this Sunday.”

      6…shootouts in hockey.
      Hockey purists tell me that shootouts determining which team wins and loses “isn’t really hockey.” Fair enough, but at least when I spend $80 on a ticket now I actually see my team win or go down in flames. There’s nothing more unsatisfying than a tie in sports – any sport. If I watch a bunch of players go at it on a slab of ice for three hours, I want to feel either ecstatic or traumatized at the end.

      Manny Ramirez7…Manny Ramirez being a free agent.
      If you don’t like following the circus that is Manny Ramirez, than you’ve got issues. And the fact that he’s a free agent this offseason only means we’ll get “Manny being Manny” on full blast over the next couple weeks/months. I seriously can’t wait to see where this goofy bastard winds up playing next year, but I’m going to enjoy the process even more.

      8…humorous sports blogs.
      How great is it that I can get a recap of the Cowboys-Giants game at the same place I can read about how Tony Romo nailed Jessica Simpson on a beach in Mexico? It’s a beautiful thing.

      9…MAC football on a Tuesday night.
      When most people see that Northern Illinois is taking on Buffalo on a random Tuesday night, they usually keep flipping until they land on a new episode of “Dancing With the Stars.” Not me. During football season, I don’t care of Texas is playing Oklahoma or Texas School for the Blind is taking on Oklahoma Little Sisters of the Poor – I’m watching it…and recording that new episode of “Dancing with the Stars.”

      10…Erin Andrews working the sidelines.
      ‘Nuff said.

      College Football, Fantasy Football, General Sports, Humor, MLB, NFL

      Reid could follow McNabb out of Philly at season’s end

      November 24, 2008 /

      Andy ReidAfter he was benched at halftime of the Eagles’ embarrassing 36-7 loss to the Ravens on Sunday, there’s little doubt that the writing is on the wall for quarterback Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia.

      But what about head coach Andy Reid?

      After a couple of dreadful performances (and I mean dreadful), it’s hard to back McNabb at this point. His play last week in a tie against the Bengals was downright embarrassing and even hard to watch. It seriously looked like he was trying to throw into double and triple coverage just to see if he could still complete the pass. And his brilliant outing Sunday against the Ravens was JaMarcus Russell-esqe: 8 of 18 for 59 yards, two interceptions, one fumble.

      But Reid deserves plenty of criticism for throwing an unproven Kevin Kolb to the wolves after the Eagles had just cut their deficit to 10-7 at halftime. They were still in the game and while McNabb didn’t necessarily deserve to go back under center, Reid’s decision was inexplicable. It’s not like Kolb had a full week to prepare – he was thrust into a horrible situation, unprepared and against one of the nastiest defenses in the league. Reid essentially sealed his, and his teams’ fate by benching McNabb when a win was still very much in reach.

      So now what, Andy? Go back to McNabb in hopes he can save your fleeting playoff hopes? Or go with a second-year quarterback and pray he does his best Matt Cassel impression?

      Everyone likes to criticize Mike Martz for not running the football more, but what about Reid? He’s had success throwing the ball over his career, but he also continuously kills his team by not creating offensive balance. He might be the most overrated coach in the NFL and his decision to bench McNabb might not only cost him the playoffs this season, but also his job in Philadelphia. If McNabb goes, shouldn’t Reid, too?

      NFL

      Is this the beginning of the end for McNabb in Philly?

      November 23, 2008 /

      For the second week in a row, Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb looked absolutely atrocious as the Ravens crushed Philadelphia 36-7 on Sunday. But unlike last week, McNabb didn’t even finish the game as he was benched for Kevin Kolb in the second half.

      McNabb was just 8 of 18 for 59 yards, two interceptions and also lost a fumble. Kolb didn’t fare much better, completing 10 of 23 passes for 73 yards and two interceptions, but one has to wonder if McNabb’s benching may signal the beginning of the end for his time in Philadelphia.

      At 5-5, the Eagles’ playoff hopes are fading fast and the Eagles might want to start preparing for the future with Kolb. Chances are McNabb will remain the starter until Philly is completely knocked out of postseason contention, but it’ll be interesting to see if Andy Reid makes the switch to Kolb towards the end of the year and then the team parts ways with McNabb in the offseason.

      As for Baltimore, this was quite a rebound performance after the Giants dismantled them last week in New York. Rookie Joe Flacco was efficient, completing 12 of 26 passes for 183 yards and two touchdowns, but more importantly, the Ravens’ running game was solid again (Le’Ron McClain finished with 88 yards and a touchdown) and the defense was dominant. They remain in the playoff hunt, but they could use a San Diego win over Indy to keep the Colts a game behind in the Wild Card race.

      NFL

      NFL Week 12 Primer

      November 23, 2008 /

      Brandon JacobsSunday’s Best: Giants (9-1) at Cardinals (7-3), 4:00 PM ET
      It might not be the sexiest game of the year, but this is one of the best matchups of the 2008 season. The Giants have been one of the best road teams over the last couple years, and the Cardinals are a completely (better) different team in the comforts of their own home than on the road. Kurt Warner is playing like a league MVP and it’ll be interesting to see how the underrated New York secondary matches up with the explosive Arizona passing game. There haven’t been a lot of opponents have been able to get pressure on Warner this season, but the G-Men have one of the best front sevens in the league. All indications are that Brandon Jacobs will play, which should help New York keep Arizona’s potent offense off the field. Both teams have a commanding lead in their respective divisions, but a win for the Giants could go a long way in eventually securing home field advantage in the postseason.

      Upset Watch: Buccaneers (7-3) at Lions (0-10), 1:00 PM ET
      I’m sure I’ll get crap for this one, but give me credit for taking a shot with this upset. Outside of getting their ass handed to them by Jacksonville two weeks ago, the Lions have been inching closer and closer to their first victory. Jon Gruden’s offense is effective, but the Buccaneers have had issues once they get into the red zone this year. They settled for three field goals inside the red zone last week against Minnesota, which essentially kept the Vikings in the game. Not that Detroit’s defense will provide much of a challenge, but if the Lions can keep the game close throughout, they might have a shot at a late score. Every year it seems that the Lions manage to win a game they’re not supposed to and I’m calling my shot this weekend – it’ll be Tampa. It helps that the Lions beat the Bucs last season, too, although it’s safe to say that the 2007 Detroit team was a shade better this year’s version.

      Philip RiversIntriguing Matchup: Colts (6-4) at Chargers (4-6), 8:15 PM ET
      After getting embarrassed by the Titans on Monday Night Football in Week 8, the Colts have won three straight and beaten quality AFC teams like the Patriots and Steelers. Indy has jumped right back into the playoff race and are one of the more dangerous teams in the league. But without Bob Sanders (knee injury) in the lineup, the Colts are a completely different team defensively. And although LaDainian Tomlinson has been quiet this year, he’s still one of the most explosive backs in the league and does anyone believe he can’t still take over a game? The Chargers are always dangerous on national TV because they play with a chip on their shoulder. They’ve also shown improvements defensively under Ron Rivera, who took over for Ted Cotrell at coordinator. Even though San Diego has struggled this year and has stumbled to 4-6, this is going to be a dogfight.

      Other Notable Games:
      Jets (7-3) at Titans (10-0), 1:00 PM ET
      Along with the Giants-Cardinals game, this could easily be the best matchup of the week. Pundits keep waiting for Tennessee to fall, but something tells me it won’t be this week. Brett Favre is susceptible to throwing an interception or two, which doesn’t bode well playing against a very opportunistic Titans’ defense. Some are smelling upset – I say the Titans remain undefeated after this week.

      Panthers (8-2) at Falcons (6-4), 4:15 PM ET
      The Falcons’ playoff hopes took a hit last week when they lost to Denver, but the Panthers have struggled with inferior opponents as of late. Jake Delhomme has not looked very sharp and Atlanta has been solid at home. This is a huge game for the NFC South.

      Eagles (5-4-1) at Ravens (6-4), 1:00 PM ET
      A loss for the Eagles and they can kiss their postseason hopes goodbye. The Ravens have a great chance to prove they’re for real after they were clowned by the Giants last week.

      Patriots (6-4) at Dolphins (6-4), 1:00 PM ET
      This is a massive game for the AFC East, especially with the Jets playing in Tennessee. A win for either one of these teams could mean a share for the AFC East Division lead and don’t forget the Dolphins absolutely crushed the Patriots in Foxboro earlier this season. The fireworks in this game have already started this week with Joey Porter.

      NFL

      Ravens, Falcons fail huge tests

      November 16, 2008 /

      Michael TurnerJust when everybody and their mother come out with the, “these guys are for real articles” about the Ravens and Falcons, both teams failed huge tests in Week 11.

      Baltimore definitely had the tougher challenge playing in New York against the defending champs, but the Giants’ defense made Joe Flacco look every bit like the rookie he is in their 30-10 victory. The Ravens fell behind so quickly that they had to abandon the run, which certainly didn’t help Flacco’s cause, and the Baltimore defense was atrocious in allowing 206 yards on the ground.

      Even though Atlanta’s loss was more closely contested than Baltimore’s was (Denver won 24-20), the Falcons played with little fire. The defense that picked off Drew Brees three times last week allowed Jay Cutler (19 of 27 for 216 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT) and the Broncos’ receivers to do whatever they wanted. Matt Ryan also floated a pass to Dre’ Bly for an interception, which is something the rookie quarterback has struggled with this season. And Mike Murlarkey’s game plan to attack Denver’s banged up defense was highly questionable to say the least. (Jason Snelling in the Wild Cat formation, Mike? Really?)

      That said, the Broncos’ defense deserves a ton of credit, too. This was a unit that was missing six starters (including Champ Bailey) and they held a pretty good Atlanta offense relatively in check. Outside of two big runs, they did a fantastic job against Michael Turner and if they get this kind of defensive effort every week, the Broncos can compete with anyone.

      Back to the Ravens and Falcons – maybe this is the week where reality sets in. These two teams have been a great story this year, but Atlanta plays in a stacked NFC South and Baltimore has only beaten one team with a winning record (Miami). It’s easy to root for Flacco and Ryan, so hopefully these teams learn from these defeats and continue to push for a playoff spot. But these were two tough losses for teams trying to prove that they’re legit contenders.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      « Older posts Newer posts »

      © 2026 The Scores Report – The National Sports Blog

      Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑